Richmond Following a jury’s recommendation, a judge yesterday sentenced a Richmond man to 48 years in prison for fatally shooting two people last year in South Richmond. In September, the jury found Willie Nelson Hayden Jr. guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two firearm charges in the shootings on Sept. 23, 2007, at Southwood Apartments off Hull Street Road. Prosecutors say Hayden shot Tyeron Massenburg, 22, who was in a moving car. A stray bullet killed Ikia M. Goodman, 25, as she sat outside her apartment.

Richmond Following a jury’s recommendation, a judge yesterday sentenced a Richmond man to 48 years in prison for fatally shooting two people last year in South Richmond. In September, the jury found Willie Nelson Hayden Jr. guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two firearm charges in the shootings on Sept. 23, 2007, at Southwood Apartments off Hull Street Road. Prosecutors say Hayden shot Tyeron Massenburg, 22, who was in a moving car. A stray bullet killed Ikia M. Goodman, 25, as she sat outside her apartment.

Louisa The Louisa County Board of Supervisors last week voted to fund through June pay raises for local constitutional officer staff positions cut by the state. While discussing the matter, supervisors made clear that the local government will in the future cut from the local budget any reductions in state funding. Chesterfield The roof of the Regal Cinemas under construction at the new Watkins Centre at Midlothian Turnpike and state Route 288 caught fire last night. Officials say they received the first alarm at 8 p.m., the first firetruck arrived at 8:16, and by 8:36 p.m., the fire was out. The two-story movie theater is being built at the shopping center in Chesterfield County.

Louisa The Louisa County Board of Supervisors last week voted to fund through June pay raises for local constitutional officer staff positions cut by the state. While discussing the matter, supervisors made clear that the local government will in the future cut from the local budget any reductions in state funding. Goochland The Goochland County school system is holding spelling bees this month leading up to a countywide contest, set for Jan. 6. On that day, winners of the spelling bees at each school will compete at 6:30 p.m. inside the Goochland Middle School/Goochland High School auditorium.

This daily column features short news items from the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. On Mondays, we run at least one item from each of the localities. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at Amelia The Amelia County School Board will hold its regular December meeting 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 in the Amelia County High School auditorium. The school’s address is 8500 Otterburn Road. The meeting is open to the public.

This daily column features short news items from the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. On Mondays, we run at least one item from each of the localities. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at Amelia The Amelia County School Board will hold its regular December meeting 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 in the Amelia County High School auditorium. The school’s address is 8500 Otterburn Road. The meeting is open to the public.

Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation is looking for volunteers to join the Ruff House Dog Park committee. The committee will consist of local dog owners who want to promote a safe off-leash environment for their dogs at Rockwood Park. Volunteers will be placed on a mailing list and receive the meeting schedule for 2009. For more information, or to be placed on the list, send your name and address to Mark Pinney at or call (804) 748-1992.

Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation is looking for volunteers to join the Ruff House Dog Park committee. The committee will consist of local dog owners who want to promote a safe off-leash environment for their dogs to enjoy at Rockwood Park. Volunteers will be placed on a mailing list and receive the meeting schedule for 2009. For more information, or to be placed on the mailing list, send your name and address to Mark Pinney at or call (804) 748-1992.

Cumberland Cumberland County could be facing a $1 million or more in state funding cuts, but School Board members said this week that they hope to be able to maintain the current classroom teacher-student ratios and make sure the instructional day is not affected. Superintendent James Thornton told the board that the system could be facing cuts of $600,000 to over $1 million.

Caroline Dominion Virginia Power is pledging $1 million during the next four years to the State Fair of Virginia for land conservation efforts at the fair’s new Caroline County home. Fair officials say they are developing a year-round conservation education program at The Meadow Event Park, where the fair is moving next year after decades in Richmond. Officials say the Dominion Foundation’s gift will help with their plans to maintain 70 percent open space, restore 10 acres of wetlands and provide land to Caroline County for a boat launch along the North Anna River.

Chesterfield Substance Abuse Free Environment Inc. has released its 2007-08 annual report, which is available online at chesterfieldsafe.org. In the report, SAFE notes a 44-percent reduction in inhalant abuse among eighth-graders in the past two years. Sales of alcohol to underage buyers involved in compliance checks also declined, according to the report.

Richmond One of four Richmond-area men charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into the U.S. to work as laborers for a commercial janitorial service has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering. Edwin Velez, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge Tuesday in U.S. District Court, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, illegal immigrants were smuggled into the country from Mexico.

Dinwiddie A charter bus is available for those interested in attending the Dinwiddie High School football team’s state championship game Saturday at Virginia Tech. The cost to ride the bus is $25 and 60 seats are available, on a first-come, first-served basis. The money is due at Dinwiddie High School, 11501 Boisseau Road, by 3 p.m. tomorrow. Those who sign up must be at the high school no later than 6 a.m. Saturday. For details or to reserve a spot on the bus, contact Ronnie Lanier at (804) 402-1391 or (804) 469-7918 or Ida Nicholas at (804) 691-7498.

Dinwiddie A charter bus is available for those interested in attending the Dinwiddie High School football team’s state championship game Saturday at Virginia Tech. The cost to ride the bus is $25 and 60 seats are available, on a first-come, first-served basis. The money is due at Dinwiddie High School, 11501 Boisseau Rd., by 3 p.m. tomorrow. Those who sign up must be at the high school no later than 6 a.m. Saturday. For more information or reserve a spot on the bus, contact Ronnie Lanier at (804) 402-1391 or (804) 469-7918 or Ida Nicholas at (804) 691-7498.

Petersburg Friends of the Lower Appomattox River will hold its regular meeting tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Crater Planning District Commission, 1964 Wakefield St. The group represents community leaders and residents interested in promoting and enhancing the Appomattox River. Richmond A man shot himself yesterday while in a car outside CJW Medical Center (Chippenham) in Richmond, police said. Authorities are investigating the incident as an attempted suicide. The man was treated at the hospital and was said to be in stable condition.